About Us

Our Philosophy

We are a Spring Hockey Development Program that runs from April 2nd – June 3rd, 2018. Our model is to develop “AA” players into “AAA” players by providing “AAA” skill development, coaching, and off-ice instruction. At UBC Junior Thunderbirds, we firmly believe better athletes make better hockey players. Players registering for this program must have competed in rep level hockey. Those who are still in initiation must have an ability to skate and a hunger for hockey knowledge.

What Makes the UBC Junior Thunderbirds Different

At UBC Junior Thunderbirds, we focus our programs around three integrated concepts: skill development, small area games, and systems. As athletes get older, these three training avenues shift toward a more structured game that we view in hockey at the highest level.

At the younger ages, students will establish a system, but spend the majority of their time developing their hockey sense and skills.

At the older ages, students will learn more advanced systems. They will then apply their skills and hockey sense to that system as the pace of play increases.

Each team will have a practice schedule that is outlined as one of: skills practice, systems practice, or 3 on 3 development.

Each practice will have a clear and concise practice plan that will be easy to follow as the program evolves. This allows young athletes to focus on their development linearly, rather than moving on before inconsistencies are corrected.

Our skilled instructors come with years of experience and the ability to translate information in a fun and effective manner, but also posses an attention to detail that will give your child the best opportunity to excel at the game.

What You Get

Small team sizes; each team is comprised of 14 skaters and a goalie

Teams competing in hitting will have rosters of 15 skaters and a goalie

Each team has a head coach and at least two assistant coaches

Each team’s goalies will be scheduled for our bi-weekly goalie-only sessions

Each team will be scheduled for a weekly dry-land session

Each player receives hockey socks, a practice jersey, and helmet stickers

Each player receives dry-land shorts and a t-shirt

Each player receives a game jersey with name-bar

Each team receives 16 practice times at UBC, 4 exhibition games, and 2 tournaments